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I am a bit confused about what I received from the BLM. After requesting a certified copy of the patent for my land, I received a document for a grant of lands in the State of Iowa for the building of railroads, with a particular railroad specified in the grant, under an Act of Congress dated May 15, 1856. I don't believe this is a patent, as it appears the only signature is by a commissioner from the department of the interior.

Now I know that it can be difficult without seeing the actual documents, but in the title abstract I have, there is an entry that states:Patent (certified copy)Filed June 2, 1975

There is also a photocopy in that abstract of the documents I received from the BLM. Does anyone have any idea on these railroad grants? Is there perhaps no actual patent? Or is it possible that the lands were granted to the State of Iowa, and a patent could have issued from them?

For the record, I have read through the act, and done a little bit of research into this. I can't seem to find a clear answer on much.

If there is anything that requires clarification, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks.

Taelynn:By definition, a “land patent” is: “A ‘Land Grant’ made Patent. You indicated that the instrument you received from the BLM was a: “grant of lands in the State of Iowa”; respectively, you mentioned that instrument referred to a specific: “Act of Congress”, under which that grant was made. Therefore, it is said: “Act of Congress”, under which the specified Land Grant was made patent. Thus, the signature securing the patent nature of the land in question is on said Act; and, under said Act the Commissioner of the Dept. of the Interior was authorized to approve the specific land that would be so granted; which is why the BLM sent you that certified document to satisfy your request.

Even with all of that, often the specific land in question may not have been specifically noted; wherefore, it is necessary to find where the specific land in question was listed under that authority—accordingly, the instrument that does that will be equivalent to a land patent.

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There are a total of 5 pages I received. Two of those pages are a list of lands in section, township and range, along with the number of acres in each, comprising approximately 193,000 acres in total. I found my section, township, and range in that list. Is that what you are referring to?

Taelynn:Though we do not have your documents in front of us and therefore cannot see the same, from your description, the answer to your question is: “Yes.”

Of course, physically verifying such matters is exactly what the $200.00 service charge is for in our Land Patent Sandwich service; the documentation cost is negligible compared to the knowledge, effort and time necessary to verify the necessary documents in that process. That is exactly why said service charge to non-beneficiaries is nonrefundable.

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